An epic film that chronicles an epic day

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2006)

I first saw this during it's initial theatrical release when I was a boy which was the only time I have seen it on the big screen. It of course is the story of Decision Day better known as D-Day, June 6, 1944 and the allied invasion of Normany setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to the end of the war in Europe 10 months later. 2,700 ships carrying 176,000 soldiers land on the heavily fortified German controlled beaches of Normandy. Thousands were killed in fighting so brutal that over the bodies 1500 men were blown to bits or swept out to sea and were never recovered. In recent years Steven Spielberg chronicled the event in his film Saving Private Ryan. In that film you are put directly into the battle and it's graphic depiction. That film couldn't have been made in 1962 before Vietnam. This film, The Longest Day is more of the overall telling of the day. German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel was said to have called D-Day, the longest day of the century. From that quote author Cornelius Ryan titled his best selling 1959 book from which this film is adapted from. Told in three parts, The Waiting as they prepare the invasion, The Night as the allies prepare it's launch and the Germans prepare their defense and The Day of the invasion. Ryan drafted the screenplay along with Romain Gary, James Jones, David Pursall and Jack Seddan. It took an equal amount of cinematographers to film it led by Jean Bourgin and Walter Wattiz the all-French photographic team included Pierre Levant, Henri Persin and Guy Tabary which won them the Academy Award for Best Black and White Cinematography in the last black and white epic filmed. The film won a second Academy Award for special effects. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Art Direction and Best Editing. This film was producer Darryl F. Zannuck's pet project and he claimed to have directed much of it although uncredited in that role he obviously oversaw it's production and it's use of multiple directors to have so many directors turn out a seamless production. Principal directors Ken Annakin and Andrew Marton are supplemented with director Bernard Wicki and second unit directors Gerd Oswald and Elmo Williams in addition to six assistant directors. Shot in 31 locations in France and Corsica including studio locations everything about this movie is on a grand scale. So much so it required four production managers. Among it voluminous international cast of A and B-list stars are John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Richard Burton, Edmund O'Brien, Rod Steiger, Robert Ryan, Mel Ferrer, Sean Connery, Stuart Whitman, Eddie Albert, Robert Walker, Red Buttons, Roddy McDowell, Peter Lawford, George Segal, Sal Mineo, Christian Marquand, Richard Dawson, Curd Jurgens, Jean Louis-Barrault, Werner Hinz, Wolfgang Preiss, Lee Strassberg, Jeffery Hunter, Steve Forrest, Richard Todd, Richard Beymer, Paul Anka, Tommy Sands and Fabian. More isn't necessarily better but in this case it's pretty good. It runs long at three hours and has it's flaws but well worth the time and some memorable screen moments.